This on-going series presents films and speakers in order to advance discussion about the future of education and education reform. Themes covered in this series include charter vs. public, integration vs re-segregation, multi-cultural curriculum, home-schooling and other alternative sites of learning, access to institutions of higher learning and the future of education professionals.

Friday, April 1st, 7:30pm

Harlem Homegrown: Films made for, by or about Harlem

Waiting for Superman

David Guggenheim, 2010, 102 min.

For a nation that proudly declared it would leave no child behind, America continues to do so at alarming rates. Despite increased spending and politicians’ promises, our buckling public-education system, once the best in the world, routinely forsakes the education of millions of children. Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the foundation of Waiting for Superman. By embracing the belief that good teachers make good schools as well as critiquing the role of unions this film explores some of the approaches taken by education reformers and charter schools.

Panel Discussion

Ernesteine Augustus, teacher, Harlem, People Power Movement

Lisa Donlan, Community Education Council District 1, Grassroots Education Movement

Julie Cavanagh, Teacher, Grassroots Education Movement

Noah Gotbaum, Community Education Council District 3

Saturday, April 2nd

4:30pm

Waiting for Superman

David Guggenheim, 2010, 102 min.

For a nation that proudly declared it would leave no child behind, America continues to do so at alarming rates. Despite increased spending and politicians’ promises, our buckling public-education system, once the best in the world, routinely forsakes the education of millions of children. Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the foundation of Waiting for Superman. By embracing the belief that good teachers make good schools as well as critiquing the role of unions this film explores some of the approaches taken by education reformers and charter schools.

7:30pm

The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman

Dir. The Grassroots Education Movement, 2011, 55 min.

A group of New York City public school teachers and parents from the Grassroots Education Movement wrote and produced this documentary in response to the Davis Guggenheim's film, Waiting for Superman. The Inconvenient Truth provides a critique of an increasingly free-market driven education system, the undermining of teachers unions and the overall faith in the idea that charter schools are just what the country needs. This film highlights the real-life experiences of public school parents and educators inside schools and in our society and takes a holistic look at education reform.

Panel Discussion with the Grassroots Education Movement

Sat: Mark Torres, Teacher, Harlem, People Power Movement

Khem Irby, Community Education Council District 13, The MANY

Julie Cavanagh, Teacher, Grassroots Education Movement

Sam Coleman, Teacher, GEM/NYCORE

Sunday, April 3rd, 5:30pm

The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman

Dir. The Grassroots Education Movement, 2011, 55 min.

A group of New York City public school teachers and parents from the Grassroots Education Movement wrote and produced this documentary in response to the David Guggenheim's film, Waiting for Superman. The Inconvenient Truth provides a critique of an increasingly free-market driven education system, the undermining of teachers unions and the overall faith in the idea that charter schools are just what the country needs. This film highlights the real-life experiences of public school parents and educators inside schools and in our society and takes a holistic look at education reform.